OMIs Suspended During School
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently passed Supervisor Eric Mar’s owner move-in legislation, which prohibits owner move-in evictions during the school year if a child lives in the unit. The restriction is only limited to the school year as defined by the San Francisco Unified School District. The legislation was unanimously passed by the board.
The impact of this legislation is minimal, if any. Owners are not completely barred from doing an owner move-in eviction, since the ban is only in effect during the school year. SFAA objected to the original wording of the legislation, which would not have allowed an OMI at any point if there were school-aged children in the home. When the legislation was changed to only be applicable during the school year, SFAA withdrew its objection and remained neutral on the issue.
“Renter’s Relief” Returns
Last year, Chris Daly was unable to overcome a mayoral veto to pass his so-called “renters relief” package at the Board of Supervisors. Now the former supervisor has moved the package to the June 2010 ballot, where it remains largely the same as what he tried to push through at the board. The ballot measure disallows rent increases if they are more than one-third of the income of “hardship” tenants.
Just as he did to quell opposition during the board battle, Daly limited those eligible for the “tenant hardship” provision to people who are unemployed, those whose wages have fallen by 20% or more over the past year, or those whose sole income is from government assistance. The tenant would also have to file a hardship petition at the Rent Board in order to be covered by the proposed measure.
SFAA will be fighting hard against this measure and is calling on its membership to be a part of the campaign against this unnecessary and harmful legislation. For more information on how you can help, please contact SFAA Government Affairs and Community Relations Manager Lisa Fricke at 415-255-2288 or lisa@sfaa.org.
Battery Recycling Now Available for Apartment Buildings
Owners and managers of apartment buildings with six or more units are encouraged to call and sign up to receive an orange, 3.5-gallon battery collection bucket to place in the lobby or other common area. The bucket is clearly labeled “Recycle Batteries Here” and includes a lid with a hole cut in the top. This program is provided as part of the garbage and recycling collection service in San Francisco. There is no additional cost to participate and the program is fully funded by city refuse rates.
The program, which keeps “household” batteries out of the landfill, protects the environment by directing alkaline and rechargeable batteries to facilities specializing in battery recycling. Most batteries contain small amounts of toxic metals and it is illegal to dispose of batteries as regular garbage in California.
Apartment building owners or managers can order battery buckets for one or more buildings by calling Recology Sunset Scavenger at 415-330-1300 or Recology Golden Gate at 415-626-4000, or by going to www.RecologySF.com/contactus and clicking on the company name. Recology can deliver the bucket/buckets to your office or to apartment building addresses you specify.
In addition to the buckets, Recology provides a starter kit that includes posters and other outreach materials to inform tenants that battery recycling is now provided in the building. Recology staff will ask you how many units you have in the building, so they can include the correct number of postcards to hand out to your tenants.
Most household batteries can be tossed loose in the bucket. Lithium batteries—like those found in cell phones, PDAs, watches, calculators—require one extra step. “People must tape the electrical contact points of all lithium batteries to prevent potentially dangerous short circuits,” explained Brad Drda, environmental manager at Recology.
When the bucket is full, anyone in the building can call the number on the bucket to let the recyclers know to come by and empty it. Once collected, batteries go to specialized smelting operations where metals are extracted for reuse. Recology cannot accept lead-acid or other wet chemistry batteries. To find a recycling location for large batteries, use the EcoFinder at SFEnvironment.org.
Landlord 101
SFAA is proud to once again offer one of our most popular professional-development series, Landlord 101, with Dave Wasserman and Curtis Dowling (two of San Francisco’s top landlord-tenant attorneys).The series is offered March 4 and March 11 at Fort Mason from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Don’t miss this valuable resource.
On March 4, the class will cover the right way to start a tenancy, including tenant selection, the application process, signing the lease, security deposits and tenant relations. On March 11, the class will cover ending the tenancy, including move-out inspections, notices to vacate and security deposit dispensation.
The cost for members is $55 per class or $100 for both classes. Preregistration for all classes is required. Contact SFAA Deputy Director Vanessa Khaleel at
vanessa@sfaa.org or call 415-255-2288.
Peace, Love and Rental Housing
The 2010 SFAA trade show will be held on April 19, 2010, at Fort Mason. The groovy Woodstock-themed event runs from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will take the place of the monthly membership meeting. This 1960s style event is open to the general public and is free.
SFAA is looking for sponsors for its lively trade show. Sponsorship is the simplest way to distribute information about your business to property owners. Participation is important for retaining current customers and showing your business off to potential new clients. Sponsorship is available at all levels, from the $3,500 Starship Co-Sponsorship Level to the $500 Deadhead level. For more information, please contact Vanessa Khaleel at 415-255-2288 x16 or vanessa@sfaa.org.
In Memoriam: John Kovacs
Former SFAA board member John Kovacs passed away from a heart attack at the end of last year. The 68-year-old Hungarian grew up under first Nazi and then Soviet rule and fled his home in Budapest with his family in the aftermath of the 1956 revolution. In 1959, he landed in San Francisco, which became his lifetime home. He was the owner of several rental properties, as well as the popular bar, The Question Mark.
To honor his memory, his family has requested that donations be made to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, 995 Market St., Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94103.
May 12: Save the Date for the Annual Expo
Mark Tuesday, May 12, 2010, on your calendar for the annual CAA Northern California Rental Housing Education Expo. This year’s show will be held at the San Mateo County Event Center and will focus on the issues and trends in the rental housing industry. It presents a unique opportunity to interact with prospects and peers and to explore the issues critical to industry survival in these tough economic times. Spend your time learning ways to protect your investment, increase sales and overcome the difficult economy. For more information visit www.caanet.org.
Survey Reveals Many Renters Making a Move in 2010
Many renters across the country rang in the New Year with plans to move to a new apartment. According to a national survey conducted by Apartments.com—which secured more than 1,500 renter responses—more than 95% of renters said they are planning a move in 2010. Striking while their 2010 moving resolutions are hot, many renters are also moving earlier this year, searching for better deals and nicer apartments in great neighborhoods.
Given the growing inventory of apartments across the country and competition to fill vacancies, many renters are moving on their own terms and seeking out better bargains during their apartment search. While many renters are looking for a deal on their next apartments, price may not be the most important factor when deciding which apartment to rent. Nearly 40% of renters told Apartments.com they are moving because they want to live in a nicer apartment located in a neighborhood where they feel safe and get more for their money by taking advantage of rental offers and deals.
According to Apartments.com, nearly 60% of renter respondents moving this year said they are either paying the same or more in rent as last year. Renters are also factoring in how their new homes will suit their needs and lifestyles. Some renters are looking for a more convenient commute to work, family and school while others want more space to start a family or to double up with roommates.
Renters are also choosing to move earlier this year. While the typical peak rental season extends from April through August, there have been some notable changes in renter moving behavior from year to year. Most notable is that 40% of renter respondents said they will be making their move during the first quarter of 2010, which is 16% more than 2009. This significant shift may be in response to the struggling economy, which has created a competitive rental market and more flexible leasing terms, providing renters with more opportunities to move during the year.